US10420470B2 - Apparatus and method for detecting biological information - Google Patents

Apparatus and method for detecting biological information Download PDF

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US10420470B2
US10420470B2 US15/013,385 US201615013385A US10420470B2 US 10420470 B2 US10420470 B2 US 10420470B2 US 201615013385 A US201615013385 A US 201615013385A US 10420470 B2 US10420470 B2 US 10420470B2
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light emission
light
subject
biological information
measurement unit
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US20170000350A1 (en
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Yongjoo Kwon
Jaemin KANG
Sunkwon Kim
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Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0059—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons using light, e.g. diagnosis by transillumination, diascopy, fluorescence
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/02007—Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/02028—Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/021—Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/024—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate
    • A61B5/02416—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation
    • A61B5/02427—Details of sensor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/02—Detecting, measuring or recording pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow; Combined pulse/heart-rate/blood pressure determination; Evaluating a cardiovascular condition not otherwise provided for, e.g. using combinations of techniques provided for in this group with electrocardiography or electroauscultation; Heart catheters for measuring blood pressure
    • A61B5/026—Measuring blood flow
    • A61B5/0261—Measuring blood flow using optical means, e.g. infrared light
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/145—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue
    • A61B5/1455—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
    • A61B5/14551—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters for measuring blood gases
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/145—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue
    • A61B5/1455—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters
    • A61B5/14551—Measuring characteristics of blood in vivo, e.g. gas concentration, pH value; Measuring characteristics of body fluids or tissues, e.g. interstitial fluid, cerebral tissue using optical sensors, e.g. spectral photometrical oximeters for measuring blood gases
    • A61B5/14552—Details of sensors specially adapted therefor
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
    • A61B5/6802—Sensor mounted on worn items
    • A61B5/681—Wristwatch-type devices
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/68—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient
    • A61B5/6801—Arrangements of detecting, measuring or recording means, e.g. sensors, in relation to patient specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
    • A61B5/6813—Specially adapted to be attached to a specific body part
    • A61B5/6825—Hand
    • A61B5/6826—Finger

Definitions

  • Apparatuses, systems, and methods consistent with exemplary embodiments relate detecting biological information.
  • Biological information of a subject may be detected by an invasive method or a non-invasive method.
  • biological information may be detected in a relatively simple manner without causing pain to a subject.
  • it may be difficult to guarantee the accuracy and precision of the detection results.
  • One or more exemplary embodiments may provide apparatuses, systems and methods for detecting biological information, whereby biological information of a subject may be easily detected.
  • One or more exemplary embodiments may provide apparatuses, systems and methods for detecting biological information, whereby the detection accuracy and reliability may be improved.
  • an apparatus for detecting biological information includes a biological signal measurement unit including a light emission portion and a photodetector, the light emission portion including at least two light emission elements having light emission angles of different sizes, the photodetector being configured to detect light generated by the light emission portion and modulated by a subject, and a data processor configured to extract and analyze biological information of the subject from data measured by the biological signal measurement unit.
  • the at least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission element, the first light emission element may include a first light source, the second light emission element may include a second light source of a different type with respect to the first light source, and the first light source and the second light source may have different light emission angles.
  • a light emission angle of one of the first light source and the second light source may range from about 0° to about 90°, and a light emission angle of the other may range from about 80° to about 180°.
  • One of the first light source and the second light source may be a laser diode (LD), and the other may be a light emitting diode (LED).
  • LD laser diode
  • LED light emitting diode
  • the at least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission element, the first light emission element may include a first light source, the second light emission element may include a second light source of a same type with respect to the first light source, and one of the first light emission element and the second light emission element may further include an optical element configured to adjust a light emission angle of light generated by the light source thereof.
  • the optical element may include at least one of a lens, an optical waveguide, a slit, a concave mirror, and a convex mirror.
  • One of the first light emission element and the second light emission element may include the optical element and the other of the first light emission element and the second light emission element may not include the optical element.
  • the first light emission element may include a first optical element corresponding to the optical element, and the second light emission element may include a second optical element different from the first optical element.
  • the at least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission elements, a light emission angle of one of the first and second light emission elements may range from about 0° to about 90°, and a light emission angle of the other of the first and second light emission elements may range from about 80° to about 180°.
  • the data processor may be configured to select a signal having a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from among a plurality of detected signals measured by the at least two light emission elements and to extract and analyze biological information of the subject using the selected signal.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • the at least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission element
  • the photodetector may include at least one light receiving device configured to receive both of an optical signal based on light emitted by the first light emission element and an optical signal based on light emitted by the second light emission element.
  • the at least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission element
  • the photodetector may include at least one first light receiving device and at least one second light receiving device
  • the first light receiving device may be configured to selectively receive an optical signal generated by light output by the first light emission element
  • the second light receiving device is configured to selectively receive an optical signal generated by light output by the second light emission element.
  • the first light emission element may generate light of a first wavelength range
  • the second light emission element may generate light of a second wavelength range different from the first wavelength range
  • the first light receiving device may be configured to receive an optical signal corresponding to the first wavelength range
  • the second light receiving device is configured to receive an optical signal corresponding to the second wavelength range.
  • the photodetector may include a plurality of light receiving devices, and the plurality of light receiving devices may be disposed in an array surrounding at least a part of the light emission portion.
  • the photodetector may include a plurality of device regions around the light emission portion, and each of the device regions may include a plurality of light receiving devices and the plurality of light receiving devices may be configured to receive light of different wavelength ranges.
  • the light emission portion may include a plurality of first light emission elements having a first light emission angle and a plurality of second light emission elements having a second light emission angle, and the plurality of first light emission elements and the plurality of second light emission elements may be alternately arranged in a two-dimensional array.
  • the light emission portion and the photodetector corresponding to the light emission portion may constitute one sub-unit, and the biological signal measurement unit may comprise an array of a repeating arrangement of a plurality of the sub-units.
  • the biological signal measurement unit may be configured to measure an effective measurement surface of the subject via a non-contact method.
  • the biological signal measurement unit may further include at least one spacer protruding toward one side of the biological signal measurement unit, in which the at least one spacer separates the light emission portion and photodetector from a surface of the subject.
  • the biological signal measurement unit may be configured to measure a surface pulse wave and/or photoplethysmogram (PPG) of the subject.
  • PPG photoplethysmogram
  • Biological information detected by the apparatus for detecting biological information may include at least one of a blood pressure, a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a blood vessel elasticity, a blood flow rate, and arterial stiffness.
  • the apparatus may further include a light source driver connected to the biological signal measurement unit, and a signal converter connected between the biological signal measurement unit and the data processor.
  • the apparatus may further include a processor, in which the processor includes the data processor and a controller.
  • At least a part of the apparatus for detecting biological information may constitute at least a part of a portable device or a wearable device.
  • an apparatus for detecting biological information includes a biological signal measurement unit including a light emission portion and a photodetector, the light emission portion including at least one light emitting unit having a variable light emission angle, the at least one light emitting unit including a light source and a light emission angle control element configured to control a light emission angle of the light source, the photodetector detecting light generated by the light emission portion and modulated by a subject, and a data processor configured to extract and analyze biological information of the subject from data measured by the biological signal measurement unit.
  • the light emission angle control element may include a variable focusing lens.
  • the light emission angle control element may include one of an auto focusing module (AFM) comprising a voice coil motor (VCM), a liquid lens using comprising electrowetting unit, and a variable focal length microlens comprising liquid crystal.
  • AFM auto focusing module
  • VCM voice coil motor
  • VCM variable focal length microlens comprising liquid crystal
  • a light emission angle of the light emitting unit may be controlled according to a distance between the light source and the subject.
  • the apparatus may further include a distance measuring sensor configured to measure a distance between the light source and the subject.
  • the data processor may be configured to select a signal having a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from among a plurality of detected signals measured while changing a light emission angle of the light emitting unit.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • the photodetector may include a plurality of light receiving devices, and the plurality of light receiving devices may be disposed in an array surrounding at least a part of the light emission portion.
  • the light emission portion may include a plurality of the light emitting units, and/or the light emission portion may further include at least one light emission element having a fixed light emission angle.
  • the biological signal measurement unit may be configured to measure a surface pulse wave and/or photoplethysmogram (PPG) of the subject.
  • PPG photoplethysmogram
  • Biological information detected by the apparatus for detecting biological information may include at least one of a blood pressure, a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a blood vessel elasticity, a blood flow rate, and arterial stiffness.
  • a method of detecting biological information includes irradiating a measurement area of a subject with incident light from at least two light emission elements having different light emission angles, generating a plurality of signals from light output by the at least two light emission elements and modulated by the measurement area, and selecting a signal having a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from among a plurality of generated signals, and extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject using the selected signal.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • the light may be irradiated onto the measurement area of the subject by driving the at least two light emission elements to emit light at different times, and the plurality of signals may be detected at different times, corresponding to the different times at which the light is emitted from the at least two light emission elements.
  • the light may irradiated onto the measurement area of the subject by simultaneously driving the at least two light emission elements, and the plurality of signals may be detected using a plurality of light receiving devices different from each other.
  • the at least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission element, the first light emission element may include a first light source, and the second light emission element may include a second light source of a different type with respect to the first light source, and the first light source and the second light source may have different light emission angles.
  • At least two light emission elements may include a first light emission element and a second light emission element, the first light emission element may include a first light source, and the second light emission element may include a second light source of same type as the first light source, and one of the first light emission element and the second light emission element may further include a lens configured to condense or disperse light generated by the light source thereof.
  • a method of detecting biological information may include irradiating a measurement area of a subject with light output by at least one light emitting unit having variable light emission angle, the at least one light emitting unit including a light source and a light emission angle control element configured to control a light emission angle of the light source, generating a signal from light incident on and modulated by the measurement area, and extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject using the generated signal.
  • the method may further include measuring a distance between the light source and the subject, and changing a light emission angle of the light emitting unit according to the measured distance.
  • a plurality of signals corresponding to a plurality of light emission angles may be generated from light detected while changing a light emission angle of the light emitting unit, and after a signal having a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) may be selected from among the generated signals, biological information of the subject is extracted and analyzed using the selected signal.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • the light emission angle control element may include a variable focusing lens.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a structure of an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a surface pulse wave signal measured by a biological signal measurement unit, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 3 illustrates a light emission portion for use with the biological signal measurement unit, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a light emission portion for use with the biological signal measurement unit, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 5 illustrates a light emission portion for use with the biological signal measurement unit, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 6 illustrates light incident on a subject irradiated by the light emission portion when the light emission portion of the biological signal measurement unit is spaced apart, by a first distance, from a surface of the subject, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 7 illustrates light incident on a subject irradiated by the light emission portion when the light emission portion of the biological signal measurement unit is spaced apart, by a second distance, from the surface of the subject, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change of a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a detected signal according to the height (i.e. a separation distance from a subject) of each of a plurality of light emission elements (light sources), according to an exemplary embodiment;
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • FIG. 9 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 10 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 11 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 13 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 14 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 15 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 16 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 18 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 19 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 20 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 22 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 23 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate examples of cases in which a biological signal measurement unit is placed over a radial artery passing through a wrist of a subject and performs measurement, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 26 illustrates a light emission portion for use with the biological signal measurement unit, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 27 illustrates a light emission portion for use with the biological signal measurement unit, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 28 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a structure of the apparatus for detecting biological information of FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a structure of the apparatus for detecting biological information of FIG. 1 , according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIGS. 31 to 33 are block diagrams showing modified examples of the structure of FIG. 30 ;
  • FIG. 34 illustrates an example of a wearable device for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a portable device for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 36 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 37 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 38 is a graph explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 39 is a graph explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 40 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a light emission portion for use with the biological signal measurement unit, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 41 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 42 schematically illustrates a structure of an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 43 illustrates a structure of the light emitting unit of FIG. 42 , according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure of a light emission angle control element of FIG. 43 ;
  • FIG. 45 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 46 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 47 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 48 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 49 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 50 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 51 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing a structure of the apparatus for detecting biological information FIG. 42 , according to an exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing a structure of the apparatus for detecting biological information FIG. 42 , according to another exemplary embodiment
  • FIG. 54 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 55 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 56 is a graph showing two signals detected according to an exemplary embodiment and direct current (DC) levels thereof;
  • FIG. 57 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 58 illustrates an apparatus for and method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 59 illustrates an apparatus and method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • first”, “second”, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another element, component, region, layer or section. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of example embodiments.
  • spatially relative terms such as “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.
  • Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to cross-sectional illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealized aspects (and intermediate structures) of exemplary embodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations as a result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances, are to be expected. Thus, exemplary embodiments should not be construed as limited to the particular shapes of regions illustrated herein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example, from manufacturing. For example, an implanted region illustrated as a rectangle will, typically, have rounded or curved features and/or a gradient of implant concentration at its edges rather than a binary change from implanted to non-implanted region.
  • a buried region formed by implantation may result in some implantation in the region between the buried region and the surface through which the implantation takes place.
  • the regions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and their shapes are not intended to illustrate the actual shape of a region of a device and are not intended to limit the scope of exemplary embodiments.
  • FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a structure of a biological information detection apparatus 1000 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the term “biological information” may signify information of a living body.
  • the biological information may include biological and medical information that may be obtained from a body of a subject SBJ, for example, a living thing such as a human or an animal, which is a measurement subject of the biological information detection apparatus 1000 , or a partial element or component of the body.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 may include a biological signal measurement unit M 10 to measure a biological signal of the SBJ. Also, the biological information detection apparatus 1000 may include a non-volatile memory (not shown) storing instructions and a data processor configured to execute the instructions and thereby extract and analyze biological information of the subject SBJ from data measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 .
  • the data processor may be provided within a processor (processor unit) P 10 .
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 may further include a driver and signal converter DS 10 connected to the processor P 10 of the biological signal measurement unit M 10 .
  • the driver and signal converter DS 10 may include a light source driver and a signal converter.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 10 may include a light emission portion LT 10 to irradiate predetermined light onto a measurement area of the subject SBJ.
  • the light emission portion LT 10 may include at least two light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 having light emission angles of different sizes.
  • the light emission portion LT 10 may include a first light emission element LL 10 having a first light emission angle ⁇ 1 within which light is emitted and a second light emission element LL 20 having a second light emission angle ⁇ 2 within which light is emitted.
  • the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 and the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 may be different from each other.
  • the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 may be greater than the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 by about 20° or more, or about 40° or more.
  • the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 may be about 60° to 180°
  • the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 may be about 0° to 100°.
  • the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 may be about 80° to 180°
  • the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 may be about 0° to 90°.
  • the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 may be about 100° to 170°
  • the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 may be about 5° to 50°.
  • the ranges of the first and second light emission angles ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 are exemplary and may vary.
  • the term “light emission angle” describes an angle defining a degree of spreading of light output by a light source in a predetermined direction toward the sides (to the periphery) with respect to the irradiation direction. Accordingly, the “light emission angle” may alternately be referred to as the divergence angle of light. Also, the “light emission angle” may alternately be referred to as the viewing angle.
  • Light L 10 output by the first light emission element LL 10 toward the subject SBJ may be referred to as the “first incident light”
  • light L 20 output by the second light emission element LL 20 toward the subject SBJ may be referred to as the “second incident light”.
  • the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 is an angle indicating a degree of divergence of the first incident light L 10 from the first light emission element LL 10
  • the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 is an angle indicating a degree of divergence of the second incident light L 20 from the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • the structures of the first and second light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 will be described later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5 .
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 10 may further include a photodetector (photodetecting portion) DT 10 to detect light L 50 ′ that is output by the light emission portion LT 10 toward the subject SBJ and modulated, for example, reflected or scattered, by the subject SBJ.
  • the light L 50 ′ may be referred to as the modulated light or the light signal.
  • the photodetector DT 10 may be arranged adjacent to the light emission portion LT 10 and may include at least one light receiving device. For example, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a charge-coupled device (CCD) may be used as the light receiving device.
  • a distance between the photodetector DT 10 and the light emission portion LT 10 may be within, for example, several millimeters, or in some cases, about 10 mm or more.
  • a biological signal of the subject SBJ, measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 may be, for example, a surface pulse wave.
  • the surface pulse wave may be a waveform (signal) corresponding to a degree of trembling of a surface (skin surface) of the subject SBJ due to the contraction and relaxation of a blood vessel (BV 1 ).
  • the surface pulse wave corresponding to the trembling of the surface S 1 may be measured by detecting the light L 50 ′ modulated on the surface S 1 of the subject SBJ.
  • the surface pulse wave may be referred to as the “skin surface pulse wave”.
  • FIG. 2 is a graph showing an example of a surface pulse wave signal measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 , according to an exemplary embodiment. The graph of FIG.
  • a biological signal of the subject SBJ measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 may be a signal other than a surface pulse wave.
  • the biological signal may be a photoplethysmogram (PPG) or other signal. Any biological signal that is measurable by a non-invasive method using light may be a subject of measurement.
  • PPG photoplethysmogram
  • Data measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 may be transferred to the processor P 10 .
  • the data processor of the processor P 10 may perform the function of extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject SBJ from the data. For example, various pieces of biological information of the subject SBJ, such as, a systolic blood pressure, a diastolic blood pressure, a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a blood vessel elasticity, a blood flow rate, or arterial stiffness, may be extracted and analyzed from the surface pulse wave signal shown in FIG. 2 . As illustrated in FIG.
  • various signal parameters such as a peak, a dicrotic notch, a number of signals per unit time, an augmentation index (AI), a reflective wave transit time (RWTT), a subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), or an ejection duration, may be extracted from the surface pulse wave signal and analyzed (that is, using pulse wave analysis (PWA)), thereby obtaining various pieces of biological information.
  • the data processor may be configured to select a signal having a relatively high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) from a plurality of detected signals measured by the light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 , and to extract and analyze biological information of the subject SBJ using the selected signal. Accordingly, the accuracy and reliability of the measurement may be improved.
  • SNR signal-to-noise ratio
  • the first and second light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 forming the light emission portion LT 10 of FIG. 1 may include different types of light sources having different light emission angles, and examples thereof are illustrated in FIG. 3 .
  • a light emission portion LT 11 may include a first light emission element LL 11 and a second light emission element LL 21 .
  • the first light emission element LL 11 may include a first light source LS 1
  • the second light emission element LL 21 may include a second light source LS 2 .
  • the first light source LS 1 may be the first light emission element LL 11
  • the second light source LS 2 may be the second light emission element LL 21 .
  • a type of the first light source LS 1 may be different from that of the second light source LS 2 .
  • the first light source LS 1 may be a light emitting diode (LED)
  • the second light source LS 2 may be a laser diode (LD).
  • a light emission angle ⁇ 1 of the first light source LS 1 may be, for example, about 80° to 180°, about 100° to 170°, or about 120° to 170°.
  • a light emission angle ⁇ 2 of the second light source LS 2 may be, for example, about 0° to 90°, about 5° to 50°, or about 10° to 30°.
  • Light L 11 and light L 21 are generated by the first light emission element LL 11 and the second light emission element LL 21 , respectively.
  • the first and second light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 forming the light emission portion LT 10 of FIG. 1 may include the same type of light source.
  • both the first and section light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 may be LDs, or both may be LEDs.
  • either one of the two light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 may further include an optical element (optical device) to adjust the light emission angle.
  • the optical element may include at least one of, for example, a lens, an optical waveguide, a slit, a concave mirror, and a convex mirror.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates an example in which a lens structure is employed as the optical element.
  • a light emission portion LT 12 may include a first light emission element LL 12 and a second light emission element LL 22 .
  • the first light emission element LL 12 may include a first light source LS 1 - 1
  • the second light emission element LL 22 may include a second light source LS 1 - 2 that is the same type of light source as the first light source LS 1 - 1 .
  • Both of the first light source LS 1 - 1 and the second light source LS 1 - 2 may be LEDs or LDs.
  • the lens structure LN 2 may include at least one lens and generally have a positive (+) refractive power or a negative ( ⁇ ) refractive power.
  • a lens may be omitted from the other one of the first and second light emission elements LL 12 and LL 22 , for example, the first light emission element LL 12 .
  • first light emission element LL 12 and the second light emission element LL 22 may have different light emission angles ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 .
  • the second light source LS 1 - 2 and the lens structure LN 2 are illustrated as being in contact with each other, they may be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined interval.
  • Light L 12 and light L 22 are generated by the first light emission element LL 12 and the second light emission element LL 22 , respectively.
  • the first light emission element LL 12 of FIG. 4 may include a lens structure, and an example thereof is illustrated in FIG. 5 .
  • a light emission portion LT 13 may include a first light emission element LL 13 and a second light emission element LL 23 .
  • the first light emission element LL 13 may include a first light source LS 1 - 1 ′
  • the second light emission element LL 23 may include a second light source LS 1 - 2 ′ that is the same type of light source as the first light source LS 1 - 1 ′.
  • the first light emission element LL 13 may further include a first lens structure LN 1 ′ to condense or disperse light generated by the first light source LS 1 - 1 ′.
  • the second light emission element LL 23 may further include a second lens structure LN 2 ′ to condense or disperse light generated by the second light source LS 1 - 2 ′.
  • the first lens structure LN 1 ′ and the second lens structure LN 2 ′ may have opposite refractive powers.
  • the signs of the refractive powers of the first lens structure LN 1 ′ and the second lens structure LN 2 ′ may be opposite to each other.
  • the first lens structure LN 1 ′ may have a negative ( ⁇ ) refractive power
  • the second lens structure LN 2 ′ may have a positive (+) refractive power.
  • the first and second lens structures LN 1 ′ and LN 2 ′ may have different refractive powers of the same sign.
  • the two light emission elements LL 13 and LL 23 including the above elements may have different light emission angles ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 .
  • Light L 13 and light L 23 are generated by the first light emission element LL 13 and the second light emission element LL 23 , respectively.
  • an optical element that is, the lens structure LN 2 configured to adjust the light emission angle
  • a first optical element that is, the first lens structure LN 1 ′
  • a second optical element that is, the second lens structure LN 2 ′, which is different from the first optical element LN 1 ′, may be provided in the second light emission element LL 23 .
  • an optical waveguide, a slit, a concave mirror, or a convex mirror may be used as the optical element, or a combination of two or more of a lens structure, an optical waveguide, a slit, a concave mirror, and a convex mirror may be used.
  • the optical element may be applied to at least one of the first light emission element LL 11 and the second light emission element LL 21 of FIG. 3 .
  • a biological signal of a subject may be measured using a plurality of light emission elements (light sources) having different light emission angles. In this way, optimal illumination intensity and an optimal light irradiation area may be ensured regardless of a distance between a biological signal measurement unit (sensor) and a measurement surface of a subject, which will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7 .
  • FIG. 6 illustrates light irradiated onto the subject SBJ by the light emission portion LT 10 when the light emission portion LT 10 of the biological signal measurement unit M 10 is spaced apart from a surface (a measurement surface) S 1 of the subject SBJ by a first distance d 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the light emission portion (light source unit) LT 10 of FIG. 6 is located relatively far from the measurement surface S 1 .
  • the second light emission element LL 20 having a narrow light emission angle ⁇ 2 may be advantageous to secure optimal illumination intensity and an optimal light irradiation area for measurement of optimal biological signal.
  • FIG. 7 illustrates light irradiated onto the subject SBJ by the light emission portion LT 10 when the light emission portion LT 10 of the biological signal measurement unit M 10 is spaced apart from the measurement surface S 1 of the subject SBJ by a second distance d 2 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the light emission portion (light source unit) LT 10 is located relatively close to the measurement surface S 1 .
  • the first light emission element LL 10 having a wide light emission angle ⁇ 1 may be advantageous to secure optimal illumination intensity and an optimal light irradiation area for measurement of optimal biological signal.
  • the illumination intensity and the light irradiation area vary and may exceed optimal measurement conditions and thus the SNR of the thus obtained signal may be lowered.
  • the illumination intensity and the light irradiation area may be secured and thus a detected signal having a high SNR may be obtained.
  • FIG. 8 is a graph showing a change of an SNR of a detected signal according to the height of each of the light emission elements (light sources), that is, a separation distance from the subject, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the light emission portion LT 10 used in the present exemplary embodiment may include an LED as the first light emission element LL 10 and an LD as the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • the light emission portion LT 10 may correspond to the light emission portion LT 11 of FIG. 3 .
  • both of the LED and the LD are infrared (IR) sources for generating IR light.
  • a signal detected using light output by the second light emission element LL 20 when a distanced is 5.5 mm, it may be seen that a signal detected using light output by the second light emission element LL 20 , having a narrow light emission angle, has a relatively high SNR, which may correspond to the case described with reference to FIG. 6 .
  • a signal detected using light output by the first light emission element LL 10 when the distance d is 2.5 mm, it may be seen that a signal detected using light output by the first light emission element LL 10 , having a wide light emission angle, has a comparatively high SNR, which may correspond to the case described with reference to FIG. 7 .
  • a signal having a comparatively high SNR may be obtained by using the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • a signal having a comparatively high SNR may be obtained by using the first light emission element LL 10 . Accordingly, a biological signal having superior quality may be measured regardless of the separation distance between the measurement unit and the measurement surface of the subject. As a result, accuracy and reliability in the measurement may be greatly improved.
  • a signal detected using light output by the second light emission element LL 20 may have a comparatively high SNR.
  • a signal detected using light output by the first light emission element LL 10 may have a comparatively high SNR.
  • the trembling of a measurement surface may be limited by the biological signal measurement unit itself, and a low SNR may be measured using light output by both of the light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 .
  • a spacer SP 1 may be used to prevent the biological signal measurement unit from contacting the measurement surface, that is, a skin surface.
  • a biological signal measurement unit M 1 may be provided on a predetermined support SS 1 .
  • the support SS 1 may be a substrate.
  • the substrate may be, for example, a printed circuit board (PCB) or a substrate similar thereto.
  • the support SS 1 may have a flexible or rigid structure.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 1 may have a structure that is the same as or similar to that of the biological signal measurement unit M 10 of FIG. 1 .
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 1 may include a light emission portion LT 1 having at least two light emission elements LL 1 and LL 2 having different light emission angles, and may further include a photodetector DT 1 .
  • the photodetector DT 1 may include at least one light receiving device.
  • At least one spacer SP 1 protruding to one side of the support SS 1 , may be provided.
  • the light emission portion LT 1 and the photodetector DT 1 may be spaced apart from the measurement surface S 1 of the subject SBJ by the spacer SP 1 .
  • a minimum separation distance between the light emission portion LT 1 and the photodetector DT 1 , and the measurement surface S 1 may be secured by the spacer SP 1 . Accordingly, the problem of an SNR of a measured signal being reduced as the light emission portion LT 1 and the photodetector DT 1 contact the measurement surface S 1 may be prevented.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 1 may be considered to include all of the support SS 1 , the light emission portion LT 1 , the photodetector DT 1 , and the spacer SP 1 .
  • the use of the spacer SP 1 is exemplary and another method may be used to achieve the purpose of forming the spacer SP 1 .
  • the forming position, structure, and number of the spacer SP 1 are exemplary and may be changed in any of various ways.
  • the structure of the light emission portion LT 1 and the photodetector DT 1 being embedded in the support SS 1 is exemplary, and the depth or position of embedding may be changed.
  • FIG. 9 exemplarily illustrates an apparatus for measuring an effective measurement surface of the subject SBJ using a non-contact method.
  • a biological signal such as a surface pulse wave of the subject SBJ
  • a non-contact measurement method may be employed.
  • a contact measurement method may be employed instead of the non-contact measurement method.
  • the spacer SP 1 may be omitted, and a biological signal may be measured in a state in which the measurement unit M 1 (LT 1 +DT 1 ) is in contact with the effective measurement surface of the subject SBJ.
  • the measurement method may be changed according to a biological signal to be measured.
  • the photodetector DT 10 of FIG. 1 may include a light receiving device capable of receiving an optical signal from the first light emission element LL 10 and an optical signal from the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • the photodetector DT 10 may include a first light receiving device that selectively receives the optical signal from the first light emission element LL 10 and a second light receiving device that selectively receives the optical signal from the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • FIG. 10 exemplarily illustrates the former and FIG. 11 exemplarily illustrates the latter.
  • a photodetector DT 11 may include a light receiving device PD 11 .
  • the light receiving device PD 11 may receive both of an optical signal (hereinafter, referred to as the first optical signal) L 10 ′ generated by the subject SBJ by incident light (hereinafter, referred to as the first incident light) L 10 from the first light emission element LL 10 , and an optical signal (hereinafter, referred to as the second optical signal) L 20 ′ generated by the subject SBJ by incident light (hereinafter, referred to as the second incident light) L 20 from the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • the first optical signal L 10 ′ and the second optical signal L 20 ′ may be incident on the light receiving device PD 11 at different times.
  • first incident light L 10 and the second incident light L 20 may be irradiated onto the surface S 1 of the subject SBJ with at different times.
  • first optical signal L 10 ′ and the second optical signal L 20 ′ may be detected by the light receiving device PD 11 at different times.
  • a plurality of signals detected by a plurality of light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 may be divided using a time-division method.
  • a photodetector DT 12 may include a first light receiving device PD 1 and a second light receiving device PD 2 .
  • the first light receiving device PD 1 may be configured to selectively receive a first optical signal L 10 ′ generated in the subject SBJ from the first incident light L 10 of the first light emission element LL 10 .
  • the second light receiving de vice PD 2 may be configured to selectively receive a second optical signal L 20 ′ generated in the subject SBJ from the second incident light L 20 of the second light emission element LL 20 .
  • the first incident light L 10 and the second incident light L 20 may fall within different wavelength ranges.
  • the first optical signal L 10 ′ may fall within a wavelength range corresponding to the first incident light L 10
  • the second optical signal L 20 ′ may fall within a wavelength range corresponding to the second incident light L 20
  • the first incident light L 10 and the first optical signal L 10 ′ may fall within a wavelength range corresponding to any one of regions of red R, green G, blue B, and infrared IR light
  • the second incident light L 20 and the second optical signal L 20 ′ may fall within a wavelength range corresponding to another of the regions of red R, green G, blue B, and infrared IR light.
  • Each of the first and second light receiving devices PD 1 and PD 2 may include a device for filtering light of a particular wavelength range.
  • the first light receiving device PD 1 may selectively receive the first optical signal L 10 ′ and the second light receiving device PD 2 may selectively receive the second optical signal L 20 ′, using their respective filtering devices.
  • a plurality of signals detected by the light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 may be divided using a wavelength-division method.
  • the first and second light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 may be driven simultaneously.
  • the light emission portion may include two or more light emission elements (light sources), and the photodetector may include two or more light receiving devices.
  • the photodetector may include two or more light receiving devices.
  • FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • a light emission portion 100 A may include a first light emission element 10 and a second light emission element 20 .
  • the first light emission element 10 and the second light emission element 20 may correspond to the first light emission element LL 10 and the second light emission element LL 20 of FIG. 1 , respectively.
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 200 may be provided on the biological signal measurement unit around or near the light emission portion 100 A.
  • two light receiving devices 200 may be provided, one at each of opposite sides of the light emission portion 100 A.
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 200 may constitute one photodetector.
  • Each of the light receiving devices 200 may correspond to the light receiving device PD 11 described in FIG. 10 .
  • Photodiodes, phototransistors, or charge-coupled devices may be used as the light receiving devices 200 .
  • the light emission portion 100 A and the light receiving devices 200 may be provided on or in a substrate 1 .
  • the substrate 1 may be, for example, a PCB, or another substrate as would be understood by one of skill in the art.
  • the substrate 1 may be a sort of support.
  • FIG. 12 illustrates a case in which the light receiving devices 200 are provided at opposite sides of the light emission portion 100 A
  • four light receiving devices 200 may be provided, one at each of the upper, lower, left, and right sides of the light emission portion 100 A.
  • the light receiving devices 200 may be arranged in at least four positions around the light emission portion 100 A.
  • the light emission portion 100 A may include a plurality of first light emission elements 10 and a plurality of second light emission elements 20
  • FIG. 14 illustrates an example thereof
  • a light emission portion 100 B may include a two-dimensional (2D) array in which a plurality of first light emission elements 10 and a plurality of second light emission elements 20 are mixed.
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 200 may be arranged in an annular array around the light emission portions 100 A and 100 B, and FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate examples thereof.
  • FIG. 17 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the light emission portion 100 A may include the first light emission element 10 and the second light emission element 20 .
  • a plurality of light receiving device regions 210 may be provided around the light emission portion 100 A.
  • Each of the light receiving device regions 210 may include a first light receiving device 200 a and a second light receiving device 200 b .
  • the first light receiving device 200 a may be a device receiving an optical signal from one of the first and second light emission elements 10 and 20 .
  • the second light receiving device 200 b may be a device receiving an optical signal from the other of the first and second light emission elements 10 and 20 .
  • the first light receiving device 200 a and the second light receiving device 200 b may be configured to receive optical signals having different wavelength ranges.
  • the first light receiving device 200 a and the second light receiving device 200 b may correspond to the first light receiving device PD 1 and the second light receiving device PD 2 of FIG. 11 .
  • the first light receiving device 200 a may be a device receiving an optical signal in a red R region
  • the second light receiving device 200 b may be a device receiving an optical signal in a green G region.
  • one of the first and second light emission elements 10 and 20 may be a red light source, and the other one may be a green light source.
  • the light emission wavelengths of the first and second light emission elements 10 and 20 and the light receiving wavelengths of the first and second light receiving devices 200 a and 200 b are not limited to these specific wavelengths, and may be changed in various ways.
  • a light emission portion 100 C may include a plurality of first light emission elements 10 - 1 and 10 - 2 and a plurality of second light emission elements 20 - 2 and 20 - 2 .
  • the first light emission elements 10 - 1 and 10 - 2 may include a (1-1)th light emission element 10 - 1 and a (1-2)th light emission element 10 - 2 .
  • the (1-1)th light emission element 10 - 1 and the (1-2)th light emission element 10 - 2 may generate light of different wavelength ranges.
  • a plurality of second light emission elements 20 - 1 and 20 - 2 may include a (2-1)th light emission element 20 - 1 and a (2-2)th light emission element 20 - 2 .
  • the (2-1)th light emission element 20 - 1 and the (2-2)th light emission element 20 - 2 may generate light of different wavelength ranges.
  • a plurality of light receiving device regions 220 may be provided around the light emission portion 100 C.
  • Each of the light receiving device regions 220 may include first through fourth light receiving devices 201 a to 201 d .
  • the first through fourth light receiving devices 201 a to 201 d may be configured to receive optical signals of different wavelength ranges.
  • the first through fourth light receiving devices 201 a to 201 d may be configured to receive optical signals in wavelength ranges of red R, green G, blue B, and infrared IR light.
  • the light emission wavelengths of the light emission elements 10 - 1 , 10 - 2 , 20 - 2 , and 20 - 2 may be determined in order to correspond with the wavelength ranges of the received optical signals.
  • the light receiving device regions 210 and 220 may be arranged in an annular array around the light emission portions 100 A and 100 B, and FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate examples thereof.
  • the arrangement method of the R and G regions of the light receiving device region 210 of FIGS. 17 and 19 , and the arrangement method of the R, G, B, and IR regions of the light receiving device region 220 of FIGS. 18 and 20 are exemplary and may be altered.
  • FIG. 21 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the light emission portion 100 A and the light receiving devices 200 arrayed around the light emission portion 100 A form one sub-unit SU 1 .
  • a plurality of sub-units SU 1 may be repeatedly arranged.
  • the light emission portion 100 A may include at least one first light emission element 10 and at least one second light emission element 20 .
  • the light receiving devices 200 may be arranged around the light emission portion 100 A in a hexagonal array or in another shape. Two adjacent sub-units SU 1 may share some of the light receiving devices 200 .
  • the structure of the sub-unit SU 1 and the repetitive arrangement method of the sub-unit SU 1 in FIG. 21 may be modified in various ways.
  • FIG. 22 is a plan view of a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with an apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • a light emission portion 110 may have a structure in which a plurality of first light emission elements 10 and a plurality of second light emission elements 20 are mixed in at least one line.
  • the first light emission elements 10 and the second light emission elements 20 may be alternately arranged in a predetermined direction.
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 201 may be provided around the light emission portion 110 .
  • the light receiving devices 201 may be arranged forming an array at at least one side of the light emission portion 110 .
  • light receiving device arrays 210 a and 210 b each including a plurality of the light receiving devices 201 , may be provided at opposite sides of the light emission portion 110 .
  • FIG. 22 illustrates that the first and second light emission elements 10 and 20 of the light emission portion 110 forming an array of a single line, an array of two or more lines may be formed, and FIG. 23 illustrates an example thereof.
  • a light emission portion 120 may have a structure in which a plurality of the first light emission elements 10 and a plurality of the second light emission elements 20 are mixed in an array forming two lines.
  • the light receiving devices 201 may be arranged around and/or adjacent to the light emission portion 120 as shown in FIG. 23 .
  • the biological signal measurement units having various structures described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 23 may be applied to the measurement area of a subject in various ways.
  • the measurement area of a subject may be, for example, a specific portion of a human body. After the biological signal measurement unit is brought close to a specific portion of a human body, a biological signal may be measured.
  • FIGS. 24 and 25 illustrate examples in which the biological signal measurement unit is placed over a radial artery RA 1 passing through a wrist part of a subject and performs measurement, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • FIG. 24 illustrates a case of using the biological signal measurement unit corresponding to FIG. 13
  • FIG. 25 illustrates a case of using the biological signal measurement unit corresponding to FIG. 22 .
  • the measurement may be performed with respect to other parts of a subject such as a finger, a toe, an earlobe, etc., having a high blood vessel density in a human body, instead of the radial artery RAL
  • the various plane structures (array structures) of the measurement unit described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 23 are exemplary and may be modified in various ways. Additionally, when a pair of a light-emitting device (light source) and a light receiving device corresponding thereto or a set of at least one light-emitting device and at least one light receiving device forms one measurement unit, a plurality of measurement units may be located at different areas of a subject. In this case, when a pulse wave signal is measured in different areas of an a subject using the measurement unit, a pulse transit time (PTT) may be obtained using a time difference between measured pulse wave signals and may be used for various biological information analyses.
  • PTT pulse transit time
  • the first light emission element (first light source) (LL 10 ) and the second light emission element (second light source) (LL 20 ) may be located at the same height (distance) from a reference surface or at difference heights (distances).
  • FIG. 26 illustrates a case in which the first light emission element LL 10 and the second light emission element LL 20 are located at the same height (distance) h from a reference surface S 10 .
  • FIG. 27 illustrates a case in which the first light emission element LL 10 and the second light emission element LL 20 are located at different heights (distances) h 1 and h 2 from the reference surface S 10 .
  • FIG. 28 illustrates a biological signal measurement unit M 20 for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 20 may include a light emission portion LT 20 and a photodetector DT 20 .
  • the light emission portion LT 20 may include at least three light emission elements LL 10 , LL 20 , and LL 30 having different light emission angles (viewing angles).
  • the first light emission element LL 10 , the second light emission element LL 20 , and the third light emission element LL 30 may have different light emission angles.
  • the first light emission element LL 10 and the second light emission element LL 20 may correspond to the first light emission element LL 10 and the second light emission element LL 20 of FIG. 1 , respectively.
  • the third light emission element LL 30 may have a light emission angle different from that of the first and second light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 .
  • the first light emission element LL 10 may include a first LED
  • the second light emission element LL 20 may include a first LD
  • the third light emission element LL 30 may include a second LED or a second LD.
  • the second LED (or second LD) may have a light emission angle different from that of the first LED (or first LD).
  • At least one of the first through third light emission elements LL 10 , LL 20 , and LL 30 may include an optical element to adjust the light emission angle similar to the one described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5 .
  • a plurality of photodetectors DT 20 may be provided around the light emission portion LT 20 .
  • three or more light emission elements LL 10 , LL 20 , LL 30 having different light emission angles (viewing angles), are used as in the present exemplary embodiment, the accuracy and reliability of the measurement may be further improved.
  • FIG. 29 is a block diagram showing a structure of the biological information detection apparatus 1000 of FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • a biological information detection apparatus 1000 A may include the biological signal measurement unit M 10 .
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 10 may have the structure of the biological signal measurement unit M 10 of FIG. 1 or may be modified according to any other various structures in view of the above descriptions.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 A may include a processor P 10 including a data processor DP 10 that extracts and analyzes biological information of a subject from the data measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 .
  • the processor P 10 may include a controller CL 10 for controlling an overall operation of the biological information detection apparatus 1000 A.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 A may include a light source driver DD 10 connected to the biological signal measurement unit M 10 .
  • the light source driver DD 10 may drive or control a plurality of light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 of the light emission portion LT 10 .
  • the light source driver DD 10 may be connected to the processor P 10 .
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 A may include a signal converter SC 10 that is connected between the biological signal measurement unit M 10 and the processor P 10 .
  • the signal converter SC 10 may be connected to the light source driver DD 10 .
  • the signal converter SC 10 may include, for example, an analog front-end (AFE) circuit.
  • AFE analog front-end
  • the signal converter SC 10 may convert an analog signal input by the measurement unit M 10 to a digital signal and may transmit the digital signal to the data processor DP 10 of the processor P 10 .
  • the signal converter SC 10 may include a signal amplifier, a noise filter, an analog-to-digital (AD) converter, etc.
  • a detected signal measured by the measurement unit M 10 may be amplified by the signal amplifier, removed of noise by the noise filter, and converted to a digital signal by the AD converter.
  • a combination of the light source driver DD 10 and the signal converter SC 10 may be regarded as one driver and signal converter, which may correspond to the driver and signal converter DS 10 of FIG. 1 .
  • the light source driver DD 10 and the signal converter SC 10 may be formed together in one chip (device) or may be formed separately.
  • the data processor DP 10 may use an algorithm to select a signal having a high SNR and superior quality from among a plurality of detected signals measured by the light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 .
  • the data processor DP 10 may be configured to select a signal having a high SNR and superior quality using the algorithm.
  • the data processor DP 10 may be configured to extract and analyze biological information of a subject using the selected signal or using the entire detected signals. For example, when the signal measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 10 is the surface pulse wave signal of FIG.
  • various signal parameters such as a peak, a dicrotic notch, number of signals per unit time, an augmentation index (AI), a reflective wave transit time (RWTT), a subendocardial viability ratio (SEVR), or an ejection duration may be extracted from the surface pulse wave signal and analyzed (for example, using pulse wave analysis (PWA)), thereby obtaining various pieces of biological information of a subject, such as, a systolic blood pressure, a diastolic blood pressure, a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation, a blood vessel elasticity, a blood flow rate, or arterial stiffness. Since a well-known algorithm may be used to extract various signal parameters from pulse wave signal by the data processor DP 10 , a detailed description thereof is omitted.
  • PWA pulse wave analysis
  • the controller CL 10 of the processor P 10 may control overall operations of the light source driver DD 10 , the signal converter SC 10 , and the data processor DP 10 .
  • the processor P 10 may further include data communication unit and/or memory.
  • the data communication unit may transmit biological information obtained through the data processor DP 10 to an external device. Also, the data communication unit may receive a predetermined input signal from the external device.
  • the memory may store the information obtained by the data processor DP 10 , store a program for the data processor DP 10 and the controller CL 10 , or store a user's command.
  • FIG. 30 is a block diagram showing a structure of a biological information detection apparatus 1000 B, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B may include the biological signal measurement unit M 10 , the light source driver DD 10 , the signal converter SC 10 , and the processor P 10 .
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B of the present exemplary embodiment may further include an input unit IN 10 , an output unit OUT 10 , a memory MR 10 , and a communication unit CM 10 , which are connected to the processor P 10 .
  • the input unit IN 10 may be a device used by a user to input a command to the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B and may be, for example, a keypad, a touch screen, a speech recognition device, or a button type input device.
  • the output unit OUT 10 is a device for outputting a result of analysis by the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B and may be, for example, a display device, a sound system, a vibration device, or a printer.
  • the input unit IN 10 and the output unit OUT 10 together may be referred to as the user interface.
  • the user may be a target of which biological information is to be measured, that is, the subject, or a person who may use the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B, for example, a medical expert, which may include a wider array of people than just the subject.
  • the memory MR 10 may store a user's command and/or a result of analysis. Also, the memory MR 10 may store a program for the data processor DP 10 and the controller CL 10 .
  • the memory MR 10 may include at least one of storage medium such as flash memory, a hard disc, a multimedia card (MMC), card type memory such as SD or XD memory, random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disc, and an optical disc.
  • storage medium such as flash memory, a hard disc, a multimedia card (MMC), card type memory such as SD or XD memory, random access memory (RAM), static random access memory (SRAM), read-only memory (ROM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), magnetic memory, a magnetic disc, and an optical disc.
  • the communication unit CM 10 may be configured to transmit the analyzed result (data) to other external device.
  • the external device communicating with the communication unit CM 10 may be, for example, a medical apparatus using analyzed biological information, or a printer that prints the result.
  • the external device may be a smartphone (mobile phone), a personal digital assistant (PDA), a laptop computer, a personal computer (PC), and other mobile or non-mobile computing device, but is not limited thereto.
  • the communication unit CM 10 may be connected to an external device by wire or wirelessly.
  • the communication unit CM 10 may communicate with an external device by a communication method such as Bluetooth communication, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication, near field communication, wireless local area network (WLAN) (wireless LAN) communication, Zigbee communication, infrared data association (IrDA) communication, Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication, ultra-wideband (UWB) communication, ANT/ANT+ communication, or Wi-Fi communication, but not limited thereto.
  • a communication method such as Bluetooth communication, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) communication, near field communication, wireless local area network (WLAN) (wireless LAN) communication, Zigbee communication, infrared data association (IrDA) communication, Wi-Fi direct (WFD) communication, ultra-wideband (UWB) communication, ANT/ANT+ communication, or Wi-Fi communication, but not limited thereto.
  • the output unit OUT 10 may be provided in a separate device outside the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B, and FIG. 31 illustrates an example thereof. Referring to FIG. 31 , the output unit OUT 10 may be provided in another device separate from the biological information detection apparatus 1000 C and may receive data (biological information) through communication with the communication unit CM 10 .
  • both of the input unit IN 10 and the output unit OUT 10 may be provided in separate devices outside the biological information detection apparatus 1000 B and FIG. 32 illustrates an example thereof.
  • the input unit IN 10 and the output unit OUT 10 may be provided in a separate device outside a biological information detection apparatus 1000 D, and may exchange input information and output information through data communication with the communication unit CM 10 .
  • the memory MR 10 and the communication unit CM 10 may be provided inside the processor P 10 .
  • at least one of the memory MR 10 and the communication unit CM 10 may be omitted, and FIG. 33 illustrates an example thereof.
  • a biological information detection apparatus 1000 E may include the input unit IN 10 and the output unit OUT 10 , which are connected to the processor P 10 .
  • the processor P 10 may further include at least one of the memory MR 10 and the communication unit CM 10 .
  • the biological information detection apparatuses 1000 A to 1000 E described with reference to FIGS. 29 to 33 may be referred to as the biological information detection system.
  • the processor P 10 may be connected to the signal converter SC 10 and/or the light source driver DD 10 through wireless communication.
  • the portable device may be, for example, a mobile phone
  • the wearable device may be, for example, a wristwatch type device, a wristband type device, or a bracelet type device, or may take any of various forms, such as glasses, a hairband, or a ring.
  • FIG. 34 illustrates an example of a wearable device in which the apparatus for detecting biological information is useable, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the wearable device is a wristwatch type device.
  • a wristwatch type device may include a device main body part (watch part) W 10 and a band part B 10 .
  • At least a part of an apparatus for detecting biological information according to the present exemplary embodiment may be disposed in the band part B 10 or in the device main body part W 10 , or parts of the apparatus may be disposed in each of the band part B 10 and the device main body part W 10 .
  • FIG. 35 illustrates an example of a portable device for use with the apparatus for detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the portable device is a mobile phone.
  • the left image shows the front surface of a mobile phone and the right image shows a rear surface of the mobile phone.
  • the measurement unit (biological signal measurement unit) of the apparatus for detecting biological information according to the present exemplary embodiment may be exposed in the front surface or rear surface of the mobile phone. Alternatively, the measurement unit may be exposed in a side surface (including an upper, lower, left, or right surface) of the mobile phone.
  • a part of the apparatus for detecting biological information may be provided in the wearable device (wristwatch type device) of FIG. 34 , and another part may be provided in the portable device (mobile phone) of FIG. 35 . Also, the wearable device and the portable device may interact with each other and data communication may be performed therebetween.
  • the biological information detection apparatuses may be used not only with a portable device or a wearable device, as described with reference to FIGS. 34 and 35 , but also may be used with or as medical equipment used in hospitals or health examination organizations, middle- or small-sized medical equipment provided in public organizations, and compact medical equipment and various health-care apparatuses that may be possessed by an individual.
  • FIG. 36 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the following description with reference to FIG. 36 is related to the biological information detection apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 35 and relevant descriptions thereof. Accordingly, the method of FIG. 36 may be understood based on the descriptions of FIGS. 1 to 35 .
  • the method of detecting biological information may include irradiating a measurement area of a subject with a plurality of lights (incident lights) having different light emission angles to using at least two light emission elements having different light emission angles (S 100 ), detecting a plurality of signals generated by the plurality of lights being reflected by the measurement area (S 200 ), and selecting a signal having a high SNR from among the detected signals and extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject using the selected signal (S 300 ).
  • the at least two light emission elements having different light emission angles may correspond to, for example, the two light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 of FIG. 1 .
  • the detection of signals in operation S 200 may be performed by, for example, the photodetectors DT 10 , DT 11 , and DT 12 of FIGS. 1, 10, and 11 .
  • the extraction and analysis of the biological information in the operation S 300 may be performed by, for example, the data processor DP 10 of FIGS. 1 and 29 .
  • the measurement area of the subject may be irradiated with the lights at different times by driving the at least two light emission elements at different times.
  • the signals may be detected at different times. The method may be summarized as shown in a flowchart of FIG. 37 .
  • a method of detecting biological information may include irradiating a measurement area of a subject with a plurality of lights (incident lights) by driving at least two light emission elements at different times (S 101 ), detecting, at different times, a plurality of signals generated by the lights being reflected from the subject (S 201 ), and selecting a signal having a high SNR from among the detected signals and extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject using the selected signal (S 301 ).
  • on and off (ON and OFF) operations of the two light emission elements may be performed as illustrated in, for example, FIG. 38 .
  • a first light emission element (first light source) and a second light emission element (second light source) may be alternately driven.
  • a measurement area of the subject is alternately irradiated with the plurality of lights generated by the first and second light emission elements, and a plurality of signals, generated by the lights being reflected from the subject, may be detected at different times (S 201 ).
  • a light emission element having a high SNR is selected based on the detected signals and then the measurement may be performed by driving only the selected light emission element, and FIG. 39 illustrates an example thereof.
  • the first and second light emission elements may be alternately driven at different times for only a predetermined time period during an initial stage of measurement, a light emission element having a high SNR is selected based on the detected signals and then the measurement may be performed by driving only the selected light emission element (first light emission element).
  • FIG. 40 is a circuit diagram showing an example of a light emission portion 100 D related to the method of detecting biological information of FIGS. 37 to 39 .
  • both of a first light emission element 10 D and a second light emission element 20 D may be diodes.
  • one of the first and second light emission elements 10 D and 20 D may be an LED and the other thereof may be an LD.
  • the first light emission element 10 D and the second light emission element 20 D may be connected in parallel in the opposite direction (opposite rectification direction) to a light source driver DD 1 .
  • any one of the first and second light emission elements 10 D and 20 D may be driven by using the light source driver DD 1 in a direction of a current applied to the light emission portion 100 D.
  • the first light emission element 10 D may be driven.
  • the second light emission element 20 D When the current is applied in a second direction a 2 that is opposite to the first direction a 1 , the second light emission element 20 D may be driven. Accordingly, the first and second light emission elements 10 D and 20 D may be alternately driven by changing the direction of current applied from the light source driver DD 1 to the light emission portion 100 D. Accordingly, the circuit structure of FIG. 40 may be applied to implement the methods of FIGS. 37 to 39 . However, the circuit structure of FIG. 40 is exemplary and may be changed in various ways. Also, the circuit structure may be modified to use in conjunction with a detection method.
  • the measurement area of a subject may be simultaneously irradiated with light from at least two light emission elements by simultaneously driving the at least two light emission elements.
  • the signals may be detected by using a plurality of different light receiving devices. The method may be summarized as shown in a flowchart of FIG. 41 .
  • a method of detecting biological information may include simultaneously irradiating to a measurement area of a subject with a plurality of lights (incident lights) having different light emission angles by simultaneously driving at least two light emission elements (S 102 ), detecting a plurality of signals generated by light reflected from the measurement area by using a plurality of different light receiving devices (S 202 ), and selecting a signal having a high SNR from among the detected signals and extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject using the selected signal (S 302 ).
  • the light receiving devices in use may include, for example, the first light receiving device PD 1 and the second light receiving device PD 2 of FIG. 11 .
  • the a plurality of light receiving device may correspond to the light receiving device regions 210 and 220 described with reference to FIGS. 17 to 20 .
  • biological information of a subject may be extracted and analyzed by combining the detected signals.
  • FIG. 42 schematically illustrates a structure of a biological information detection apparatus 1500 , according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 may include a biological signal measurement unit M 15 configured to measure a biological signal of the subject SBJ.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 may include a processor (processor unit) P 15 comprising a data processor that extracts and analyzes the biological information of the subject SBJ from data measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 15 .
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 may further include a driver and signal converter DS 15 that are connected to the biological signal measurement unit M 15 and the processor (including the data processor) P 15 .
  • a light emission portion LT 15 of the biological signal measurement unit M 15 may include a light emitting unit LU 15 having a variable light emission angle.
  • a light emission angle of the light emitting unit LU 15 may vary between a maximum angle ⁇ 1 and a minimum angle ⁇ 2 .
  • the maximum angle ⁇ 1 may be determined, for example, to be about 180° or less or about 170° or less.
  • the minimum angle ⁇ 2 may be determined, for example, to be about 0° or more or about 5° or more.
  • the ranges of the maximum angle ⁇ 1 and the minimum angle ⁇ 2 may vary according to the type of a light source used in the light emitting unit LU 15 .
  • the ranges of the maximum angle ⁇ 1 and the minimum angle ⁇ 2 may vary according to the structure of the light emission angle control element used in the light emitting unit LU 15 .
  • a light emission angle of the light emitting unit LU 15 may be controlled according to a distance d between the light emission portion LT 15 and the subject SBJ. Illumination intensity and the light irradiation area of an incident light L 15 radiated by the light emitting unit LU 15 to the subject SBJ may be easily controlled by controlling the light emission angle of the light emitting unit LU 15 . Accordingly, optimal illumination intensity and an optimal light irradiation area may be easily secured regardless of the distance d.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 15 may further include a photodetector DT 15 that detects light L 15 ′ that is irradiated by the light emission portion LT 15 onto the subject SBJ and modulated by, for example, reflected or scattered by the subject SBJ.
  • the photodetector DT 15 may be arranged adjacent to the light emission portion LT 15 and may include at least one light receiving device. For example, a photodiode, a phototransistor, or a charge-coupled device (CCD) may be used as the light receiving device.
  • CCD charge-coupled device
  • each of the driver and signal converter DS 15 and the processor P 15 connected to the biological signal measurement unit M 15 may be the same as or similar to those of the driver and signal converter DS 10 and the processor P 10 described with reference to FIG. 1 , detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.
  • the same effect as that obtained by the light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 of FIG. 1 having the different light emission angles ⁇ 1 and ⁇ 2 may be obtained by using the light emitting unit LU 15 having a variable light emission angle.
  • the light emitting unit LU 15 of FIG. 42 may include a predetermined light source and a light emission angle control element configured to control the light emission angle of the predetermined light source.
  • a structure of the light emitting unit LU 15 is described below with reference to FIG. 43 .
  • FIG. 43 illustrates a structure of the light emitting unit LU 15 of FIG. 42 , according to an exemplary embodiment.
  • the light emitting unit LU 15 may include a light source LS 5 and a light emission angle control element AC 5 to control a light emission angle of the light source LS 5 .
  • the light source LS 5 may be, for example, an LED or an LD, or other light emitting source (light emitting device).
  • the light emission angle control element AC 5 may include, for example, a variable focusing lens.
  • the light emission angle control element AC 5 may include an auto focusing module (AFM) using a voice coil motor (VCM), a liquid lens using electrowetting, or a variable focal length microlens comprising liquid crystal.
  • AFM auto focusing module
  • VCM voice coil motor
  • FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional view showing an example of a structure of the light emission angle control element AC 5 of FIG. 43 .
  • the light emission angle control element AC 5 has an AFM structure.
  • the light emission angle control element AC 5 may include a housing structure 60 having an AFM structure, and a lens module 50 may be provided in the housing structure 60 .
  • the lens module 50 may include at least one lens and a lens barrel.
  • the lens module 50 may be provided in a lens holder 52 .
  • the lens holder 52 may be a type of bobbin.
  • a coil 54 may surround the lens holder 52 , and a magnetic member 56 may be provided corresponding to the coil 54 .
  • a spring member 58 may be provided between the lens holder 52 and the housing structure 60 .
  • the spring member 58 may be provided at upper and lower portions of the lens holder 52 .
  • the spring member 58 may be, for example, a plate spring.
  • the lens module 50 may be moved up and down according to the direction of current applied to the coil 54 .
  • the light emission angle control element AC 5 of FIG. 44 may be located under the light source LS 5 of FIG. 43 , and may be in an orientation which is upside-down as compared to the orientation as illustrated in FIG. 44 .
  • the AFM structure of FIG. 44 is exemplary and may be modified in various ways.
  • the light emission angle control element AC 5 may include a liquid lens using electrowetting or a variable focal length microlens using liquid crystal. Since the structures of a liquid lens and a variable focal length microlens are known, detailed descriptions thereof are omitted.
  • a light emission portion may include two or more light emitting units (light sources), and a photodetector may include two or more light receiving devices.
  • various plane structures (array structures) of the biological signal measurement unit are described below with reference to FIGS. 45 to 48 .
  • FIG. 45 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit for use with the biological information detection apparatus, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • a light emission portion 150 A may include a light emitting unit 15 having variable light emission angles.
  • the light emitting unit 15 may correspond to the light emitting unit LU 15 of FIG. 42 .
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 250 may be provided around the light emission portion 150 A.
  • two light receiving devices 250 may be provided at opposite sides of the light emission portion 150 A.
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 250 may form a single photodetector.
  • the light emission portion 150 A and the light receiving devices 250 are provided on a substrate 1 .
  • the substrate 1 may be, for example, a PCB, or another type of substrate.
  • the substrate 1 may be a support.
  • FIG. 45 illustrates a case in which the two light receiving devices 250 are provided at opposite sides of the light emission portion 150 A
  • four light receiving devices 250 may be provided at upper, lower, left, and right sides, respectively, of the light emission portion 150 A.
  • one of the light receiving devices 250 may be provided at each of at least four positions around the light emission portion 150 A.
  • the light emission portion 150 A may include a plurality of light emitting units 15 . Also, the number and arrangement method of the light receiving devices 250 may vary. Referring to FIG. 47 , a light emission portion 150 B may have a structure in which a plurality of light emitting units 15 are arranged in a 2D array. Also, the light receiving devices 250 may be arranged forming an annular shape around the light emission portion 150 B.
  • FIG. 48 is a plan view showing a structure of a biological signal measurement unit, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • a light emission portion 160 may have a structure in which a plurality of light emitting units 15 form at least one line.
  • a plurality of light receiving devices 251 may be provided around the light emission portion 160 .
  • the light receiving devices 251 may be arranged forming an array at at least one side of the light emission portion 160 .
  • light receiving device arrays 260 a and 260 b each including a plurality of light receiving devices 251 , may be provided, respectively, at opposite sides of the light emission portion 160 , as shown in FIG. 48 .
  • FIG. 48 illustrates that the light emitting units 15 of the light emission portion 160 form one line, an array structure having two or more lines may be used.
  • plane structures (array structures) described with reference to FIGS. 45 to 48 are exemplary and the structures may be modified in various ways to the structures described with reference to FIGS. 12 to 23 , or structures similar thereto.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 15 of FIG. 42 may further include at least one light emission element having a light emission angle, which is fixed on the light emission portion LT 15 , and FIGS. 49 and 50 illustrate example thereof.
  • a light emission portion LT 16 may include a light emitting unit LU 16 having variable light emission angles and a light emission element LL 16 having a fixed light emission angle.
  • the light emission element LL 16 may correspond to the first light emission element LL 10 or the second light emission element LL 20 of FIG. 1 , or may be similar thereto.
  • the light emitting unit LU 16 may correspond to the light emitting unit LU 15 of FIG. 42 , or may be similar thereto.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 16 may include a photodetector DT 16 .
  • a light emission portion LT 17 may include a light emitting unit LU 17 having variable light emission angles and a plurality of light emission elements LL 17 and LL 27 having a fixed light emission angle.
  • the light emission elements LL 17 and LL 27 may include the first light emission element LL 17 and the second light emission element LL 27 .
  • the first light emission element LL 17 and the second light emission element LL 27 may correspond to the first light emission element LL 10 and the second light emission element LL 20 of FIG. 1 , respectively, or may be similar thereto.
  • the light emitting unit LU 17 may correspond to the light emitting unit LU 15 of FIG. 42 , or may be similar thereto.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 17 may include a photodetector DT 17 .
  • the measurement may be performed while changing the light emission angle of the light emitting units LU 16 or LU 17 , and also the measurement may be performed using the light emission elements LL 16 , LL 17 , and LL 27 , which may be advantageous to the measurement of a biological signal in many aspects.
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 15 of FIG. 42 may further include a distance measuring sensor that is adjacent to the light emission portion LT 15 , and FIG. 51 illustrates an example thereof.
  • a biological signal measurement unit M 18 may include a light emission portion LU 18 and a photodetector DT 18 , and may further include a distance measuring sensor DM 18 that is adjacent to the light emission portion LU 18 .
  • the light emission portion LU 18 and the photodetector DT 18 may correspond to the light emission portion LU 15 and the photodetector DT 15 of FIG. 42 , respectively.
  • the light emission portion LU 18 may be a light emitting unit having a variable light emission angle.
  • the distance measuring sensor DM 18 may be a device to measure a distance d of FIG. 42 between the light emission portion LU 18 and a subject (not shown) to be measured.
  • the distance measuring sensor DM 18 may have a structure that is the same as or similar to a proximity sensor. A distance between the light emitting unit LU 18 , or a light source included therein, and the subject may be measured using the distance measuring sensor DM 18 , and a light emission angle of the light emitting unit LU 18 may be controlled according to the measured distance. The use of the distance measuring sensor DM 18 is optional.
  • the distance measuring sensor DM 18 of FIG. 51 may be used with the biological signal measurement units M 16 and M 17 of FIGS. 49 and 50 .
  • FIG. 52 is a block diagram showing a structure of the biological information detection apparatus 1500 of FIG. 42 .
  • a biological information detection apparatus 1500 A may include the biological signal measurement unit M 15 .
  • the biological signal measurement unit M 15 may have the structure of the biological signal measurement unit M 15 described with reference to FIG. 42 or any one of various structures modified therefrom.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 A may include a processor (processor unit) P 15 having a data processor DP 15 that extracts and analyzes biological information of the subject SBJ from data measured by the biological signal measurement unit M 15 .
  • the processor P 15 may further include a controller CL 15 to control an overall operation of the biological information detection apparatus 1500 A.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 A may further include a light source driver DD 15 connected to the biological signal measurement unit M 15 .
  • the light source driver DD 15 may be connected to the processor P 15 .
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 A may further include a signal converter SC 15 that is connected between the biological signal measurement unit M 15 and the processor P 15 .
  • the signal converter SC 15 may be connected to the light source driver DD 15 .
  • the processor P 15 may further include a data communication unit and/or memory.
  • the light source driver DD 15 , the signal converter SC 15 , the controller CL 15 , and the data processor DP 15 of FIG. 52 may be similar to the light source driver DD 10 , the signal converter SC 10 , the controller CL 10 , and the data processor DP 10 of FIG. 29 .
  • a light emission angle of the light emitting unit LU 15 may be automatically controlled as necessary using the controller CL 15 and the light source driver DD 15 .
  • FIG. 53 is a block diagram showing a structure of a biological information detection apparatus 1500 B, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 B may include the biological signal measurement unit M 15 , the light source driver DD 15 , the signal converter SC 15 , and the processor P 15 .
  • the biological information detection apparatus 1500 B may further include an input unit IN 15 , an output unit OUT 15 , a memory MR 15 , and a communication unit CM 15 , which are connected to the processor P 15 .
  • the input unit IN 15 , the output unit OUT 15 , the memory MR 15 , and the communication unit CM 15 may be the same as or similar to the input unit IN 10 , the output unit OUT 10 , the memory MR 10 , and the communication unit CM 10 described in FIG. 30 , respectively.
  • the structure of FIG. 53 may be changed in various ways as described with reference to FIGS. 31 to 33 .
  • FIG. 54 is a flowchart explaining a method of detecting biological information, according to another exemplary embodiment.
  • the following description with reference to FIG. 54 is related to the biological information detection apparatus described with reference to FIGS. 42 to 53 and relevant descriptions thereof. Accordingly, the method of FIG. 54 may be understood based on the descriptions of FIGS. 42 to 53 .
  • a method of detecting biological information may include irradiating a measurement area of a subject with light from at least one light emission element having a variable light emission angle (viewing angle) (S 150 ), detecting a signal generated from light reflected from the measurement area (S 250 ), and extracting and analyzing biological information of the subject using the detected signal (S 350 ).
  • the at least one light emission element having a variable light emission angle (viewing angle) may correspond to, for example, the light emitting unit LU 15 of FIG. 42 .
  • the signal detection of the operation S 250 may be performed by, for example, the photodetector DT 15 of FIG. 42 .
  • the biological information extraction and analysis of the operation S 350 may be performed by, for example, the data processor DP 15 of FIGS. 42 and 52 .
  • a distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject may be measured and a light emission angle of the light emitting unit may be changed according to a measured distance.
  • the method may be summarized as shown in a flowchart of FIG. 55 .
  • a method of detecting biological information may include measuring a distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject (S 151 ), changing a light emission angle of the light emitting unit according to the measured distance (S 251 ), and measuring a biological signal of the subject using the light emitting unit having the changed (controlled) light emission angle (S 351 ).
  • the distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject there may be various methods to measure the distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject. For example, when a distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and a skin surface of the subject is relatively long, a direct current (DC) level of a detected signal, for example, a pulse wave signal, decreases. When the distance is relatively short, the DC level of a detected signal increases. As the DC level, that is, the height of a DC component, is analyzed using the above principle, the distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject may be calculated. The relation between the above-described distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject and the DC level of a detected signal may be represented by a graph of FIG. 56 .
  • a graph A denotes a detected signal corresponding to a case in which the distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject is relatively long
  • a graph B denotes a detected signal corresponding to a case in which the distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject is relatively short.
  • a detected signal may have a relatively low DC level DC 1
  • a detected signal may have a relatively high DC level DC 2 . Accordingly, the distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject may be calculated by measuring and analyzing the DC level of a detected signal.
  • the data processor of the processor P 15 of FIG. 42 may further include a DC component analysis unit.
  • the data processor of the processor P 10 of FIG. 1 may further include a DC component analysis unit.
  • the method of measuring a distance between the light emitting unit (light source) and the subject may be changed in various ways. As an example, as illustrated in FIG. 51 , when the distance measuring sensor DM 18 is in use, the distance may be directly measured using the distance measuring sensor DM 18 .
  • a light emission angle of the light emitting unit (light source) is adjusted to an appropriate value according to the measurement, and then, a biological signal is measured using the adjusted light emission angle. Accordingly, optimal illumination intensity and an optimal light irradiation area may be easily obtained, and as a result, accuracy and reliability in the measurement may be greatly improved.
  • a signal having a high SNR is selected from among the detected signals and biological information of the subject may be extracted and analyzed by using the selected signal (S 252 ).
  • the distance measurement operation may be omitted and, after a plurality of signals are detected while freely changing a light emission angle of the light emitting unit, a signal having a high SNR is selected from among the signals and used for extracting and analyzing biological information.
  • the biological information of a subject may be extracted and analyzed by combining detected signals.
  • a variety of factors may be taken into consideration in determining a range of the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 and a range of the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 .
  • a range of the first light emission angle ⁇ 1 may be determined.
  • the range of the second light emission angle ⁇ 2 may be determined. Also, in the biological information detection apparatus 1500 of FIG.
  • a variety of factors such as the distance between the light emitting unit LU 15 and the photodetector DT 15 , the distance between the light emitting unit LU 15 and the subject SBJ, a divergence angle of diffuse reflection of the incident light L 15 on the surface S 1 , and a width of an effective signal generation area of the surface S 1 may be taken into consideration the surface S 1 .
  • the measurement may be performed in a state in which the biological signal measurement unit approaches or is in contact with an effective measurement area of the subject, and FIGS. 58 and 59 illustrate examples thereof.
  • FIG. 58 illustrates a case in which the measurement is performed while the biological signal measurement unit M 10 is in contact with an effective measurement surface of the surface S 1 of the subject SBJ, as described with reference to FIG. 1 .
  • FIG. 59 illustrates a case in which the measurement is performed while the biological signal measurement unit M 15 is in contact with an effective measurement surface of the surface S 1 of the subject SBJ, as described with reference to FIG. 42 .
  • the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 58 and 59 may correspond to a case of detecting a photoplethysmogram (PPG) signal of the subject SBJ.
  • the PPG signal may be measured by using the principle that an optical signal that is reflected or scattered varies according to a change in the volume of blood existing in a blood vessel BV 2 of the subject SBJ. Since reflection and scattering of light decreases when an amount of blood is relatively large and increases when an amount of blood is relatively small, the PPG signal may be changed according to contraction and relaxation of the blood vessel BV 2 .
  • the light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 having different light emission angles are used as in FIG. 58 , or the light emitting unit LU 15 having a variable light emission angle is used as in FIG. 59 , accuracy in the measurement of a PPG signal may be improved.
  • the first light emission element LL 10 having a relatively large light emission angle is mainly used for the measurement.
  • the second light emission element LL 20 having a relatively small light emission angle is mainly used for the measurement.
  • intensity of light arriving at the blood vessel BV 2 may be decreased.
  • the use of the second light emission element LL 20 having a relatively small light emission angle may be advantageous for the measurement.
  • the light emission angle of the light emitting unit LU 15 is adjusted according to the thickness of the skin tissues of the subject SBJ, accuracy in the measurement may be improved.
  • signals having a high SNR are selected from among the detected signals and then biological information may be analyzed, or biological information may be analyzed by combining data from the signals.
  • the photodetector DT 10 may be located at a height different from those of light emission elements LL 10 and LL 20 .
  • the positional relationship between the photodetector DT 10 and the light emission portion LT 10 may be changed in various ways. Also, a measurement unit that detects light passing through (i.e., transmitted) a predetermined portion of a subject may be used, or a measurement unit that detects a biological signal other than a surface pulse wave signal or a PPG signal of a subject may be used. While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described with reference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

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KR102434698B1 (ko) 2022-08-22
CN117379046A (zh) 2024-01-12
EP3111834B1 (fr) 2021-07-07
KR20170004607A (ko) 2017-01-11
US11229363B2 (en) 2022-01-25
EP3111834A1 (fr) 2017-01-04
US20190365231A1 (en) 2019-12-05
CN106308776A (zh) 2017-01-11

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